Victoria County, homeowners partner for drainage repairs

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• County tax rate hearing

• 1 p.m. Thursday

• Victoria County Courthouse, 115 N. Bridge St.

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A Victoria County official hopes to improve safety and drainage in Precinct 1 by installing driveways and culverts in residential areas.

In exchange for the cost of materials, Commissioner Danny Garcia and his road crew have completed more than 20 driveway and drainage projects for Precinct 1 residents this year.

"We have drainage issues; that's part of the reason we were doing this project - to get the water to move," Garcia said. "If we can get the water to move, eventually, we won't have problems with water backing up into houses and causing problems there."

Commissioners approved a $440 donation from Henry DeLosSantos on Monday. The donation will offset the cost of installing a driveway and drainage pipes at DeLosSantos' property on Roger Street in Bloomington.

Garcia called the project a "win-win."

Property owners pay for the cost of the materials, and the county provides the labor and equipment for free, bringing the price to about $350.

Garcia said if a property owner had to foot the entire bill, he or she could be out $2,500.

"Because the drainage is being worked on, water moves to where it's supposed to be moving - people aren't driving through a ditch to park at their house," Garcia said. "It's a win-win for all of us."

Garcia said once the request is in, the county asks for a week to get the work finished.

Anyone interested in having a driveway installed should contact Garcia or the precinct roadway superintendent.

It takes about a week to get the work finished because crews are also building and rebuilding roads, Garcia said.